Baby seems upset over feeding.....

10 replies

KaybeeandZak · 12/01/2007 19:21

My DS is 6 weeks old. In the beginning i tried to bf him, but I have strange nipples and we just couldn't get him to latch on well. We tried nipple shields but he always seemed distressed/upset/frustrated at feeds. I gave up and we started bottle feeding, but he still always cries after a feed and I can't understand it as the health visitor said he is having enough (if not too much) food! I think he might just want to suck continuously, but he won't take a dummy, he doesn't seem to be able to suck on it without his toungue pushing it out. What could be wrong with him????
The doctor has put him on infant gaviscon, which has stopped him bringing up milk, but he still cries and is frustrated at the end of a feed.......

OP posts:

Plibble · 12/01/2007 19:34

Could he have wind? My DD would act upset and sort of peck at me (easily mistaken for looking for food, I thought) when she had wind. Have you tried Infacol or Colief?

tribpot · 12/01/2007 19:36

How is he if he sucks your finger? Could he have a tongue tie? I don't know much about this but some info here - I know this can make breastfeeding difficult.

Have no idea how the HV can determine he is having 'enough' food, have you tried feeding him more? Is he winding okay?

Original poster

KaybeeandZak · 15/01/2007 11:23

he used to suck my finger just fine, but cant seem to do it now. i had a look at the toungue tie info and i don't think his tounge looks like those pictured but some of the symptoms do sound familiar. I might check with the doctor. We did try feeding him more and he threw it up, but i don't think the health visitor is right, how can she know how hungry he is??!

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Mumpbump · 15/01/2007 11:43

You could always try the hungrier baby formula. They put more stodge in it to make it more filling. Sounds fairly yucky to me, but if it worked, you'd at least be able to rule out hunger and if he kept crying, it might suggest another cause. Re: dummies, we never used one, but my understanding is that it can take a while for a baby to accept them and that the cherry shaped ones are better - not sure why. Can't think of anything else...

Original poster

KaybeeandZak · 23/01/2007 11:49

am going to check with the hv today re hungry baby formula

any one else had similar prob???

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MummyMellie · 23/01/2007 23:28

Hi KaybeeandZak, if your lo is throwing up the extra food that you tried it suggests he has a bubble trapped in there. When you add more food on top of the bubble it eventually pushes the food up in front of it as it comes out so you get a sick baby. If he has had enough he won't suck any more, they are often hungry again a few mins after being sick so its worth trying to give him a bit more and see how he feels about it. I have a 14wk ds who can be a nightmare to wind, hates having the bottle taken away from him but if I don't do it every 30mls or so the whole lot comes back up at the end when he burps. You prob know this, but try keeping your lo's back as staight as poss while winding, it makes it much easier for the air to come up. I was originally using infant gaviscon with my lo, but I found that it bunged up his insides so much that we ended up dealing with a whole new set of probs. He has actually been better since we stopped using it. Cow&Gate Comfort formula is a bit thicker than others so is good for sicky/hungry babies.
Hold on a mo, just read your first post again, has anyone mentioned reflux or silent reflux to you? Do you think your lo is actually in pain rather than hungry or frustrated?

Original poster

KaybeeandZak · 24/01/2007 10:49

Yeah the doctor mentioned it could be reflux and thats why we were trying gaviscon, but i honestly dont know whether thats whats wrong or not... Maybe I should try burping him every 30mls. And I do plan to try some kind of thickened formula, just want to check with the health visitor....

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Original poster

KaybeeandZak · 07/02/2007 18:49

Can anyone else offer any opinions about this...
The problem is that my ds screams for food and gets really worked up, is okay while feeding (as long as the bottle isn't taken away) and then screams the house down when the bottle is finished.
The HV said to feed him more, but i don't believe the amount of food is the issue. He will pretty much finish everything in the bottle no matter how much i put in , 120mls or 200mls, makes no difference to him! He usually throws up after a feed, and sometimes is still throwing up a bit over an hour after he finishes feeding.
He also has some coughing/choking/swallowing issues. He often wakes himself up swallowing loudly. He has put on weight and if he isn't thinking about food he is generally a happy baby. Do people think this is reflux ?????????
We have tried gaviscon, which seemed to help for a bit but not for long

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saralou100 · 08/02/2007 11:54

bumping for you kaybee xx

3andnomore · 08/02/2007 12:11

If it is reflux, then keeping your lil one upright might be helpful, also, maybe he would need his food thickened....you can get thickener in lil sachets on prescription.
Also, try persevering wiht teh dummy....some Baby's take their time learning to keep it in, but if it is reflux, then a dummy could help some!
Also, see if you can find a Babymasssage class, that could help a bit, too.
Another thing that could work is, Osteopathy/ cranio sacral therapy....!

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